Nolan needs Cheltenham rain for Conyers Hill Paul Nolan is keeping a close eye on the weather forecast this week as he weighs up running plans for Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Nolan Hoping for Rain Ahead of Paddy Power Gold Cup Nolan, who landed the Kim Muir at this year’s Cheltenham Festival with Daily Present, has two possible runners in Ifiwerearichman and Conyers Hill. Conyers Hill has attracted quiet support after an eye-catching seasonal return at Limerick and useful course experience when finishing sixth in the Grand Annual in March. However, Nolan admitted the drying ground could force his hand. “I don’t think Conyers Hill will run looking at the forecast,” he said. “It would be a shame because we have been aiming him at the race, he ran a cracker at Limerick and we fancied stepping him up in trip. The trouble is he must have a bit of an ease in the ground. “It’s obviously been very dry as the cross-country race has been abandoned, but it’s a very tricky time of year for the clerks as they can’t just chuck a load of water on for this meeting because it will ruin it for later in the year when the rain does eventually come. “I’d imagine we’ll leave him in on Monday in the hope the forecast might change.” Ifiwerearichman Likely to Stay at Home Ifiwerearichman, a Punchestown winner in December, looked set to play a major role in a Grade Three event in January before falling at the final fence. That effort saw him raised 4lb, with his British mark now 7lb higher than in Ireland. “He’s gone up the best part of a stone for not winning when you take that into account, so I would imagine that will mean he stays at home,” Nolan added.
